w in silent dust,
That heart that lo'ed me dearly! [loved]
But still within my bosom's core
Shall live my Highland Mary.

TO MARY IN HEAVEN

Thou lingering star, with lessening ray,
That lov'st to greet the early morn,
Again thou usherest in the day
My Mary from my soul was torn.
O Mary! dear departed shade!
Where is thy place of blissful rest?
Seest thou thy lover lowly laid?
Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?

That sacred hour can I forget?
Can I forget the hallow'd grove,
Where by the winding Ayr we met,
To live one day of parting love?
Eternity will not efface
Those records dear of transports past;
Thy image at our last embrace--
Ah! little thought we 'twas our last!

Ayr gurgling kiss'd his pebbled shore,
O'erhung with wild woods, thickening green;
The fragrant birch, and hawthorn hoar,
Twin'd amorous round the raptur'd scene.
The flowers sprang wanton to be prest,
The birds sang love on ev'ry spray,
Till too, too soon, the glowing west
Proclaim'd the speed of winged day.

Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes,
And fondly broods with miser care!
Time but the impression stronger makes,
As streams their channels deeper wear.
My Mary, dear departed shade!
Where is thy place of blissful rest?
Seest thou thy lover lowly laid?
Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast?

The group that follow are addressed either to unknown divinities or to
girls who inspired only a passing devotion. In the case of _Bonnie
Lesley_, there was no question of a love-affair: the song is merely a
compliment to a young lady he met and admired. _Auld Rob Morris_ is
probably purely dramatic.

CA' THE YOWES

(Second Version)

Ca' the yowes to the knowes, [ewes, knolls]
Ca' them where the heather grows,
Ca' them where the burnie rows, [brooklet rolls]
My bonnie dearie.

Hark! the mavis' evening sang [thrush's]
Sounding Clouden's woods amang;
Then a-faulding let us gang, [a-folding, go]
My bonnie dearie.

We'll gae down by Clouden side, [go]
Thro' the hazels, spreading wide
O'er the waves that sweetly glide
To the moon sae clearly.